WEBVTT YEARS OLD.YEARS OLD.NBC5S ABBY ISAACS SPOKE WITH HISNBC5S ABBY ISAACS SPOKE WITH HISFAMILY ABOUT THE LEGACY HEFAMILY ABOUT THE LEGACY HELEAVES BEHIND.>> HE LIVED A FULL LIFE AND HE>> HE LIVED A FULL LIFE AND HELIVED FULL TO THE END.ABBY: FOR NEARLY ALL OF HIS 100ABBY: FOR NEARLY ALL OF HIS 100YEARS, BUSINESSMAN ANDYEARS, BUSINESSMAN ANDPHILANTHROPIST TONY POMERLEAUPHILANTHROPIST TONY POMERLEAUGAVE BACK TO OTHERS.>> FIRST OF ALL, I'>> FIRST OF ALL, I’M A 100 YEARS>> FIRST OF ALL, I’M A 100 YEARSOLD.OLD.IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO BE HERE.ABBY: HERE HE IS, JUST A FEWABBY: HERE HE IS, JUST A FEWMONTHS AGO, AT HIS 37TH ANNUALMONTHS AGO, AT HIS 37TH ANNUALCHRISTMAS PARTY FORCHRISTMAS PARTY FORDISADVANTAGED KIDS INDISADVANTAGED KIDS INBURLINGTON.>> I'>> I’VE FED AT LEAST 40, 50,000>> I’VE FED AT LEAST 40, 50,000UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN.ABBY: THURSDAY NIGHT, THEABBY: THURSDAY NIGHT, THECENTENARIAN DIED IN HIS HOME INCENTENARIAN DIED IN HIS HOME INBURLINGTON.BURLINGTON.HIS SON ERNIE SAYS IN THE ARHIS SON ERNIE SAYS IN THE AROF HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.OF HIS ENTIRE FAMILY. >> AS BEAUTIFUL AND AS PEACEFUL >> AS BEAUTIFUL AND AS PEACEFULAS YOU COULD EVER HAVE WISHEDAS YOU COULD EVER HAVE WISHEDFOR YOUR FATHER.ABBY: A NEWPORT VERMONT NATIVEABBY: A NEWPORT VERMONT NATIVEAND SELF-MADE MULTIMILLIONAIRE.>> I CAME UP THE HARD WAY.>> I CAME UP THE HARD WAY.>> I CAME UP THE HARD WAY.WHEN I CAME OUT OF ST JOHN’SWHEN I CAME OUT OF ST JOHN’SSEMINARY IN 1936, I WENT TO WORKSEMINARY IN 1936, I WENT TO WORKFOR $12 A WEEKFOR $12 A WEEKI MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE NOW.ABBY: HE CREATED A LEGACY OFABBY: HE CREATED A LEGACY OFGIVING, CARING AND SHARING,GIVING, CARING AND SHARING,DONATING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TODONATING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOVARIOUS PROJECTS OVER THE YEARS.>> HE WAS VERY FOCUSED ON MAKING>> HE WAS VERY FOCUSED ON MAKINGIT TO 100 AND HE DID.IT TO 100 AND HE DID.AND IN THOSE 100 YEARS HEAND IN THOSE 100 YEARS HECONTRIBUTED A GREAT DEAL TO THISCONTRIBUTED A GREAT DEAL TO THISCITY.ABBY: HIS NAME APPEARS ONABBY: HIS NAME APPEARS ONBUILDINGS RANGING FROM THEBUILDINGS RANGING FROM THEBURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TOBURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TOTHE YMCA AND THE BOYS AND GIRLSTHE YMCA AND THE BOYS AND GIRLSCLUB OF BURLINGTON.CLUB OF BURLINGTON.>> HE HAS MADE DREAMS COME TRUE>> HE HAS MADE DREAMS COME TRUEFOR MANY KIDS OF THE BOYS ANDFOR MANY KIDS OF THE BOYS ANDGIRLS CLUB.GIRLS CLUB.IN PARTICULAR, HE SUPPORTED THEIN PARTICULAR, HE SUPPORTED THEEARLY PROMISE EDUCATION PROGRAMEARLY PROMISE EDUCATION PROGRAMAND WITH HIS HELP WE HAVE DOZENSAND WITH HIS HELP WE HAVE DOZENSOF KIDS WHO ARE FIRST IN THEIROF KIDS WHO ARE FIRST IN THEIRFAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE.>> $1 MILLION!>> $1 MILLION![APPLAUSE]ABBY: HE GAVE MONEY TO HURRICANEABBY: HE GAVE MONEY TO HURRICANEIRENE VICTIMS.>> OF COURSE IT FEELS GOOD.ABBY: A REPUBLICAN WHO FAMOUSLYABBY: A REPUBLICAN WHO FAMOUSLYGOT ALONG WITH BERNIE SANDERS.>> HE HAD A BIGGER THAN LIFE>> HE HAD A BIGGER THAN LIFEPERSONALITY.ABBY: ERNIE SAYS HIS DAD OFTENABBY: ERNIE SAYS HIS DAD OFTENSAID THAT EVERYTHING HAS ANSAID THAT EVERYTHING HAS ANEXPIRATION DATE EXCEPT HIM.>> AND IN THE LEGACY THAT HE SET>> AND IN THE LEGACY THAT HE SET>> AND IN THE LEGACY THAT HE SETFORTH, HE DOESN’T.ABBY: ERNIE SAYS THEY ARE STILLABBY: ERNIE SAYS THEY ARE STILLFINALIZING THE DETAILS ON AFINALIZING THE DETAILS ON AFINALIZING THE DETAILS ON ACELEBRATION OF HIS FATHER’SCELEBRATION OF HIS FATHER’SLIFE.LIFE.BUT IT WILL BE HELD HERE ATBUT IT WILL BE HELD HERE ATBUT IT WILL BE HELD HERE ATPOMERLEAU’S ALMA MATER, ST.POMERLEAU’S ALMA MATER, ST.MICHAELS COLLEGE, AT THEMICHAELS COLLEGE, AT THEBEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK.BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK.IN COLCHESTER, ABBY ISAACS, NBCIN COLCHESTER, ABBY ISAACS, NBC

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"Our dad often said that everything has an expiration date except him. He was so right because I know that together, our family and the Vermont community will carry forward his spirit and legacy," Ernie Pomerleau said. "While every one of us may not accomplish as much and reach as many lives as he has, in this next century we can each be loving family members, caring neighbors and generous souls to shine in his example."

Tony Pomerleau donated millions of dollars to various projects over the years.

He was known for his annual holiday party for low-income families and just last summer, donated $1 million to open a new sailing center in Burlington.

Pomerleau was born in Marbleton, Quebec, on Sept. 28, 1917.

Ernie Pomerleau called his dad "a true Vermonter."

"He came from nothing and worked his way up for success, but never forgot people along the way and he created a legacy, a philanthropy of giving and caring and sharing," Ernie Pomerleau said.

He said his father passed in the middle of the night in the arms of his family.

"It was as beautiful and as peaceful as you could ever have wished for your father," Ernie Pomerleau said. "We were blessed and we had every grandchild and every sibling around him in the middle of the night, wishing him safe travels."

Sen. Patrick Leahy, who is married to Pomerleau's niece Marcelle, said within a very short time of meeting him, Tony made him feel like a member of the family.

"During the past few days Marcelle and I, and the children and grandchildren, have talked about Tony, and the memories of our associations over the years flood back. We think of his enormous philanthropy in Vermont, his caring about Vermont and people throughout Vermont society. We think of the good he has done for others, but in the end we think of a loving member of our family, and while not unexpected, it is a loss that will be felt by all of us over the generations," Leahy said in a statement. "Perhaps so much is summed up in the memories Marcelle and I have of being at the baptism of his great-grandchild last year at the time of Tony’s birthday. A hundred years separated the two of them, but the love in Tony’s face was the same love we have seen for decades."

Among the organizations that called Pomerleau a benefactor was the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington.

"Endless thanks to our friend Mr P. This entire community will miss you and your leadership dearly. Your legacy will live on through the large number of us who will take the persistence, care and smart thinking that we've learned from you and live our best lives. Rest easy, Mr P.," the group wrote on Facebook.

"He has made many dreams come true for kids of the Boys and Girls Club. In particular, he supported our “early promise” education program, and with his help, we have dozens of kids who are first in their family to go to college, and the ripple effect of that work will continue long beyond any one of us," Tanya Benosky said.

Rep. Peter Welch also released a statement expressing his condolences.

“It’s hard to believe that Tony Pomerleau is no longer with us. He was an indefatigable legend who improved the lives of countless Vermonters through his business and charity work. His ‘can do’ attitude was infectious," Welch said. "His legacy of generosity and entrepreneurialism will live on but his presence in Vermont’s communities will be sorely missed.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders said Pomerleau was a friend for more than 35 years.

"(He) was one of the most remarkable human beings that I've ever met. His love for Vermont and the city of Burlington was contagious, and his incredible generosity helped thousands of families in our state. Jane and I send our condolences to the Pomerleau family," Sanders said.

Gov. Phil Scott said he was deeply saddened and expressed his sympathy to the Pomerleau family.

“I feel fortunate to have known Tony, and Vermont was fortunate to have him. He gave so much to others and was a leader in his community and beyond," Scott said. "You don’t have to look any farther than the attendance and appreciation expressed at his 100th birthday party, which we celebrated last fall, to see how much he meant to Vermont. That’s because he was always willing to help his neighbors, he had incredible work ethic, and he treated others with respect."

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger celebrated Pomerleau's life and contributions to the city.

"Tony had an enormous impact on Burlington, both as a business person who pursued substantial ventures and made major investments here, and as a philanthropist whose remarkable generosity benefited our Burlington Police Department, as well as local organizations and institutions too numerous to name," Weinberger said. "I always admired Tony’s love of family, and enjoyed hearing about Rita and their children. And Tony created an even bigger family through pursuing one of his greatest passions -- providing opportunities to Burlington’s children. Thanks to Tony, generations of Burlingtonians will grow up with greater access to after school and recreational activities. I am honored to have worked with Tony many times over the years as Mayor, and I will miss him very much.”

He called Pomerleau one of Vermont's most successful business people.

"There are a number of Vermonters who, like Tony Pomerleau, started with nothing. And Vermont made them very economically prosperous and wealthy people," former State Sen. Vince Illuzzi said. "A lot of them have left the state. They don't issue a press release. They change their residence to Florida or taxes. Tony didn't do that. Tony stayed and invested and remained part of the community."

Vermont National Guard Maj. Gen. Steven Cray said Pomerleau was an outspoken supporter of those who serve in the military.

"He is an honorary Green Mountain Boy and will be sorely missed in our communities," he said.

A public visitation at St. Michael's College was planned for early next week. Specific details have not yet been released.